3D printed poison dart gun is legal and can pass through metal detectors

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3D printers have sparked a manufacturing revolution. They’ve also stirred up quite a bit of controversy, and it has everything to do with guns and the First and Second Amendments to the Constitution.

Peter Alaric decided he needed to do something to protest proposed updates to ITAR (International Traffic in Arms Regulation) banning the distribution of technical specifications, schematics, and training related to firearms. The changes are squarely aimed at making it illegal to share things like The Liberator pistol online.

Alaric’s response was to whip up a .40 caliber gun — a fully legal one — of his own on his 3D printer and share the .STL files needed to print one up with anyone who visits his website. Under the current regulations, hit dart gun isn’t classed as a firearm. It’s an airgun, so at least for now there’s nothing that prohibits Alaric distributing the files and instruction people need to create their own copy — even though it’s a potentially deadly weapon.

It doesn’t exclusively fire poison darts, of course, and Alaric readily admits that he ran with that wording to sensationalize what he was doing. Not that you have to try too hard to make a gun that can slip through metal detectors unnoticed, has military standard rails for mounting things like tactical lights and laser sights, and can shoot sharp things at very high speeds sound sensational.

If you’re down for a little target practice in your home or office and you have access to a 3D printer, by all means: download Peter’s plans and have a blast. Also remember to wear eye protection and to not shoot your friends no matter how hilarious it might seem at the time. Stick to Nerf darts for those shots.